In a montage of footage from exhibitions and programs at the museum, families and visitors explore colorful art-filled galleries.
WELCOME
NOW OPEN: NCMA Winston-Salem Downtown offers exhibitions and programs that foster creativity and collaboration among visitors, artists, and community groups. Admission is free.
DOWNTOWN HOURS
| Wednesday | 1pm – 5pm |
| Thursday | 1pm – 7pm |
| Friday | 1pm – 5pm |
| Saturday | 11am – 5pm |
| Sunday | 1pm – 5pm |
PLEASE NOTE: NCMA Winston-Salem’s primary campus is CLOSED in 2026 for construction improvements.
EXHIBITIONS
VIEW ALL EXHIBITIONS
Process as Practice: Three Artists from Western NC
The North Carolina Museum of Art, Winston-Salem, is pleased to announce Process as Practice: Three Artists from Western North Carolina, the second exhibition at the new art space in downtown Winston-Salem. An opening reception will be held …
Learn more about Process as Practice: Three Artists from Western NCAttend the OpeningNCMA Winston-Salem
The Art of Now Since 1956
UPCOMING EVENTS
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![Image related to [CANCELLED] ART CRUSH: Kenny Wavinson & Proxevita](https://ncmawinstonsalem.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/kenny-wavinson-3-1024x683.jpg)
[CANCELLED] ART CRUSH: Kenny Wavinson & Proxevita
This event is cancelled due to weather NCMA Winston-Salem is proud to partner with ART CRUSH to bring NC-based musicians to the Arts District’s monthly block party Taking the stage at the corner of 6th and Trade Streets at 8:00 pm, Kendall Daniels, better known as Kenny Wavinson, is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, and songwriter from Greensboro, NC. Inspired by acts such as Mac Demarco, Real Estate, and Good Morning, Kenny makes nostalgic melodic groves under his own genre he calls “Lakewater Rock”. Taking the stage at 9:00 pm, Proxevita in an NC-based artist and activist who transcends genres of electronic dream pop, shoegaze, classical, grunge, and sound healing to champion social change, sustainability, & Indigenous ethos. Over the past four years, Proxevita has significantly contributed to various global initiatives in the arts, culture, and sustainability. ART CRUSH is a creative block party that highlights the Arts District Businesses and local creatives that reside in Winston-Salem and surrounding areas. All are welcome to celebrate the arts at this free, community event.
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Art in the Park: Botanical Art (Double Feature!)
Join us for a special Art in the Park double feature with concurrent workshops led by artists Emily Clare and Laura Lashley at Miller Park Emily Clare will guide participants through hands-on printmaking with Gelli plates, using natural elements like leaves and flowers to produce layered, one-of-a-kind monoprints. Laura Lashley will lead an exploration of meditative flower paintings during an acrylic painting session designed to promote mindfulness while exploring balance, pattern, and vibrant floral forms. No experience is needed, just curiosity and a love for nature-inspired art. Materials are provided and all ages and skill levels are welcome. Emily Clare Emily Clare is a visual artist from Cookeville, TN, who now lives and works in Winston-Salem. She has exhibited work in regional, national, and international exhibitions; most recently, NCMA Winston-Salem’s inaugural exhibition, Unboxed: Art beyond the Museum and a solo show at Central Gallery in Greensboro, NC. Clare is a co-founder of the Ardmore Art Walk in Winston-Salem. | emilyclarestudio.com Laura Lashley Laura Lashley is an artist living and working in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina. Her distinctive vision has remained consistent over decades of creating and exhibiting paintings in the Triad where her work in and out of the studio has been widely celebrated. | lauralashley.com Art in the Park Art in the Park is a free pop-up series presented by NCMA Winston-Salem and Winston-Salem Recreation & Parks. Designed for all ages, Art in the Park invites you to explore your creativity at scenic local parks. Drop by between 10:00 and 1:00 to enjoy a unique, hands-on tutorial led by our featured local artist. Materials are provided, and if you can’t stay to create, we’ll happily send you off with supplies to help spark your imagination later.
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Book Club: Another Life
September’s discussion of Another Life will take place at Coffee Park (1208 Reynolda Rd. 27104). Attendees are welcome to purchase coffee and baked goods at the airstream and bring them to the discussion. Another Life by Sarena Ulibarri Sarena Ulibarri’s Another Life is a solarpunk novella published by Stelliform Press. Set in a sustainable, post-collapse community in Death Valley called “Otra Vida,” the story explores the ethical dilemmas of a society discovering scientific proof of reincarnation. NCMA Winston-Salem Book Club Book Club is going solarpunk this fall. An emerging subgenre of speculative fiction, solarpunk envisions futures in which climate change triggers innovation, resilience, community building, and closer bonds with the natural world. Join other curious readers and dive headfirst into contemporary literary fiction. Led by NCMA Winston-Salem Executive Director and former English professor Bill Carpenter, Book Club offers guided conversations covering a range of topics, from themes and imagery to plot structures and character development, with selections ranging from national bestsellers to experimental novels. All are welcome at Book Club, even those who don’t finish the book.
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Vinyl Lounge
Vinyl Lounge has a new home at NCMA Winston-Salem Downtown For both seasoned record collectors and vinyl newcomers alike, Vinyl Lounge offers a welcoming community eager to explore different genres and eras of music. Attendees are invited to bring their own records and immerse themselves in a communal listening experience like no other. Pop-up vendors will be onsite with records available to purchase. Vinyl Lounge Established over ten years ago as PVD (Public Vinyl Demo) by EMBER Audio + Design, Vinyl Lounge is a celebration of sound now presented in partnership with NCMA Winston-Salem. The spirit of shared discovery is at the heart of Vinyl Lounge. Enjoy the unique warmth and depth that only vinyl can provide on a hi-fi sound system courtesy of EMBER.
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Park Hangs: Kit McKay
Unwind and socialize at Park Hangs, an outdoor concert series at Bailey Park Gather and unwind to the NC-borne songs and spirit of Kit McKay from 6:00–8:00 pm. Food truck service begins at 5:00 pm. Patrick Stovall, known as Kit McKay in his latest solo project, offers a refreshingly free approach to music-making, entertaining the ridiculous as well as the profound. His recent release, The Dirt Candies, perfectly embodies this philosophy. What started as weekend jam sessions with his college roommate, Matt Southern, has become an unexpected calling card. The deliberately silly songs have caught the attention of college radio stations and audiences hungry for something real. Park Hangs Join us to unwind and socialize at a new outdoor concert series with music by NC-based artists, food and drinks by local vendors, and easygoing vibes in Bailey Park (445 Patterson Ave. in Winston-Salem). Park Hangs is presented by NCMA Winston-Salem and Innovation Quarter, with additional support from Atwell Ford Real Estate. Bring your own food or purchase from vendors in the park or from favorite restaurants in Innovation Quarter. Drinks from Incendiary Brewing will be available for purchase; outside alcohol is prohibited. Limited street parking is available, with additional paid parking in the Link Parking Deck (530 North Patterson Ave.).
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Open Studio: Hidden Layers
Create texture-rich art inspired by the tactile works of Erin Canady and Leah Smith Taking inspiration from exhibiting artists Erin Canady and Leah Smith, this drop-in workshop introduces the fundamentals of masking in art. Use alternative pigments — such as coffee grounds and turmeric — to build striking textures while reimagining traditional mediums. Ages 18 and up; materials provided. Open Studio Open Studio is an adults-only art meetup designed to spark creativity, conversation, and connection. Focusing on process over perfection, these flexible, drop-in sessions invite participants to experiment freely with materials and ideas in an easygoing workshop environment. Each month features a fresh creative prompt inspired by a North Carolina-based artist. Stop by Open Studio to make art with friends you haven’t met yet.
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ART/LIT Teen Art Club: Visual Language in Printmaking
ART/LIT Teen Art Club presents a hands-on printmaking workshop led by artist Timothy Jeffers Students ages 12-17 are invited to learn the fundamentals of planning and composition while working with a Speedball Mini Press with guidance from artist Timothy Jeffers. The workshop will focus on broadside design, essential materials, tools, and techniques for thoughtfully combining text and imagery. No prior printmaking experience required, just curiosity and a willingness to experiment. Timothy Jeffers A multidisciplinary artist, curator, and cultural organizer based in Winston-Salem, Timothy Jeffers centers his work on community storytelling, Black history, and access to the arts, bridging visual culture, education, and public programming through exhibitions and collaborative projects. Since an internship with Sawtooth School for Visual Art, Jeffers has focused primarily on printmaking and regularly teaches introductory workshops. ART/LIT Students ages 12-17 are invited to explore the intersection of visual arts and literature at ART/LIT, an art club for teens that meets monthly for hands-on workshops led by working artists at local library branches. Workshops are open to all skill levels and encourage curiosity, creativity, and connection through art. ART/LIT is presented in partnership with Forsyth County Public Library. All materials are provided. Registration is required.
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Artist Talk: Erin Canady & Kimberly English
Save the date! Registration opens soon. Hear from Erin Canady and Kimberly English, working artists featured in NCMA Winston-Salem Downtown’s second group exhibition Process as Practice: Three Artists from Western NC, as they discuss the ideas, materials, and processes behind their artistic practices. English and Canady will discuss how thread, water, graphite, and other materials shape their creative work, from the ways individual parts come together to the marks and traces left by time. This artist talk offers an opportunity to hear directly from these artists about how process has become an essential part of their artistic practice and will conclude with a Q&A session.
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2nd Saturday: Community Day at Reynolda House
Join us for a special 2nd Saturday at Reynolda House Museum of American Art Find NCMA Winston-Salem and other local organizations at Reynolda House Museum of American Art for Community Day: Picturing Freedom. In the spirit of community, help create a collaborative mural using colorful paint markers. 2nd Saturday One of the museum’s longest-running programs, 2nd Saturday provides opportunities for all ages and skill levels to create memories through accessible, hands-on art-making. Each month’s art activity is inspired by current exhibitions or events. All materials are provided.
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Workshop: Introduction to Weave Drafting with Kimberly English
Explore the art of weave drafting with exhibiting artist Kimberly English Drafting is a visual system for translating structure and sequence into woven cloth. In this beginner-friendly workshop, participants will explore weave drafts as both practical tools and conceptual puzzles: systems of interdependent parts that can be read and manipulated. Through guided exercises, participants will learn how to interpret and modify 4-harness weave drafts while developing an understanding of how small structural changes create complex visual outcomes. The workshop approaches drafting not only as a weaving skill, but as a way of thinking through pattern, logic, repetition, and variation. This workshop will be led by exhibiting artist Kimberly English, whose work is on view in Process as Practice: Three Artists from Western NC at NCMA Winston-Salem Downtown through November 29, 2026. English is a fiber artist and educator based in Canton, NC. While some weaving experience may be helpful, this course is also open to artists, designers, makers, and visually curious people interested in systems-based thinking, pattern construction, and structured experimentation. Participation is free but registration is required. Header image: Kimberly English, The Devil’s Wife, 2024, handwoven cotton, quilting cotton, batting, curtain fabric backing. Kimberly English. Courtesy of the artist.
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Park Hangs: Real Companion
Unwind and socialize at Park Hangs, an outdoor concert series at Bailey Park Gather and unwind to the alt-country rock sounds of Real Companion from 6:00–8:00 pm. Food truck service begins at 5:00 pm. Based in Boone, Real Companion is an alt-country rock and folk-adjacent outfit fronted by Seth Sullivan. Their debut full-length album Nü-metal Heroes was recorded in a backyard studio, drawing inspiration from a winding path towards sobriety, parenthood, and cheeseburgers. “Nü-metal Heroes feels off-the-cuff but fully developed—whether the duo are trying their hand at spirited country-rockers or more streamlined, almost dreamy folk-pop, their instrumental contributions are pleasing but never taking away from the yarns Sullivan spins at the center of the songs. It all amounts to a palpably Appalachian rock record—one that isn’t constrained by its roots, but that bears the marks of them nonetheless.” — Rosy Overdrive Park Hangs Join us to unwind and socialize at a new outdoor concert series with music by NC-based artists, food and drinks by local vendors, and easygoing vibes in Bailey Park (445 Patterson Ave. in Winston-Salem). Park Hangs is presented by NCMA Winston-Salem and Innovation Quarter, with additional support from Atwell Ford Real Estate. Bring your own food or purchase from vendors in the park or from favorite restaurants in Innovation Quarter. Drinks from Incendiary Brewing will be available for purchase; outside alcohol is prohibited. Limited street parking is available, with additional paid parking in the Link Parking Deck (530 North Patterson Ave.).
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Art in the Park: Painted Egg Gourds
Design and paint your own egg gourd ornament for autumn with guidance from artist Leo Rucker Join us for a hands-on creative session to learn basic decorative techniques, explore color theory and pattern design, and incorporate personal details to create a one-of-a-kind ornament. This Art in the Park session will be led by Winston-Salem-based artist Leo Rucker. No prior experience required. Leo Rucker Leo Rucker is a multidisciplinary visual artist who works with pencil, pastel, acrylics, watercolor, and oils. He is known for capturing the heartbeat of his subjects through striking photo realism and emotional depth. Rucker is an award-winning artist, educator, and community collaborator, with solo exhibitions, large-scale murals, published illustrations, and portrait commissions across North Carolina and beyond. Through his art and teaching, Rucker uses visual storytelling to celebrate culture, history, and human connection. Art in the Park Art in the Park is a free pop-up series presented by NCMA Winston-Salem and Winston-Salem Recreation & Parks. Designed for all ages, Art in the Park invites you to explore your creativity at scenic local parks. Drop by between 10:00 and 1:00 to enjoy a unique, hands-on tutorial led by our featured local artist. Materials are provided, and if you can’t stay to create, we’ll happily send you off with supplies to help spark your imagination later.
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Patron Party
Join us for the Patron Party at the newly opened NCMA Winston-Salem Downtown to party with fellow members and celebrate the legacy of practicing artists in North Carolina. Creative cocktail attire encouraged. Access to this event is limited to Patron-level ($250) members and above. Not a member yet? Join online or contact the Membership Team to upgrade your support at (919) 664-6754 or email membership@ncartmuseum.org. Tickets for this event are not on sale yet.
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Book Club: Monk and Robot
October’s discussion of Monk and Robot will take place at Coffee Park (1208 Reynolda Rd. 27104). Attendees are welcome to purchase coffee and baked goods at the airstream and bring them to the discussion. Monk and Robot by Becky Chambers In Monk and Robot, the robots of Panga have long ago achieved self-awareness and retreated into the forests, where they’ve become the stuff of legends and myth. However, when a robot checks in on a tea monk one day, honoring its ancient duty, it cannot leave until the monk answers the simple question: “What do you need?” NCMA Winston-Salem Book Club Book Club is going solarpunk this fall. An emerging subgenre of speculative fiction, solarpunk envisions futures in which climate change triggers innovation, resilience, community building, and closer bonds with the natural world. Join other curious readers and dive headfirst into contemporary literary fiction. Led by NCMA Winston-Salem Executive Director and former English professor Bill Carpenter, Book Club offers guided conversations covering a range of topics, from themes and imagery to plot structures and character development, with selections ranging from national bestsellers to experimental novels. All are welcome at Book Club, even those who don’t finish the book.
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Open Studio: Connected Threads
NCMA Winston-Salem and Sawtooth School for Visual Art are proud to present a collaborative Open Studio session inspired by the work of exhibiting artist Kimberly English Enjoy an evening of contemporary fiber art and spend time at two of downtown Winston-Salem’s premier arts hubs. Create your own woven work using a DIY cardboard loom at NCMA Winston-Salem Downtown; weaving materials and an instruction sheet will be provided. Throughout the evening, small groups will be guided to neighboring Sawtooth School for Visual Art for a live weaving demonstration and studio tour. Drop in anytime between 5:00 and 7:00 pm. Open Studio Open Studio is an adults-only art meetup designed to spark creativity, conversation, and connection. Focusing on process over perfection, these flexible, drop-in sessions invite participants to experiment freely with materials and ideas in an easygoing workshop environment. Each month features a fresh creative prompt inspired by a North Carolina-based artist. Stop by Open Studio to make art with friends you haven’t met yet.
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2nd Saturday: Secret Shapes
An exploration of lines and layers inspired by the processes of exhibiting artists Erin Canady and Leah Smith Experiment with tape-masking to manipulate negative space. Use oil pastels over taped sections that, when peeled away, reveal new shapes beneath. 2nd Saturday One of the museum’s longest-running programs, 2nd Saturday provides opportunities for all ages and skill levels to create memories through accessible, hands-on art-making. Each month’s art activity is inspired by current exhibitions or events. All materials are provided.
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Field Trip: Piedmont Craftsmen’s Fair
Explore Piedmont Craftsmen’s 63rd Annual Fair with other arts enthusiasts Since 1963, Piedmont Craftsmen’s Annual Fair has celebrated outstanding craftsmanship, showcasing more than 100 artisans from across the country. Visitors can see and shop one-of-a-kind works of clay, wood, glass, fiber, leather, metal, print, and more. Field Trippers will enjoy free admission to the Fair, an introduction to the event and the guild from Piedmont Craftsmen staff, and a tour highlighting artists’ booths and live demonstrations. Meet makers, learn about their creative processes, and experience the artistry of one of Winston-Salem’s legacy organizations up close. Field Trips are free to attend but registration is required. Piedmont Craftsmen Piedmont Craftsmen is a non-profit that works to promote the value of fine craft by championing the work of exhibiting members, providing education, and creating connections among artists, collectors, and the community. Field Trips Field Trips are community art excursions to local, arts-based organizations and institutions for an inside look at spaces that are shaping the cultural landscape in the North Carolina triad. The monthly meet-ups are led by NCMA Winston-Salem staff and may include collaborative art-making, movement or sound explorations, guided tours, or creative prompts. Like the field trips of our childhoods, they combine fun and learning, all while showcasing unique, local entities that are rooted in the arts.
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Book Club: Walkaway
Walkaway by Cory Doctorow Hubert and Natalie decide to give up fully on formal society and walk away. After all, now that anyone can design and print the basic necessities of life—food, clothing, shelter—from a computer, there seems to be little reason to toil within the system. It’s still a dangerous world out there, the empty lands wrecked by climate change, dead cities hollowed out by industrial flight, shadows hiding predators animal and human alike. Still, when the initial pioneer walkaways flourish, more people join them. Soon the walkaways discover the one thing the ultra-rich have never been able to buy: how to beat death. Now it’s war, and it threatens to turn the world upside down. Please be advised that Walkaway contains mature adult themes and content. NCMA Winston-Salem Book Club Book Club is going solarpunk this fall. An emerging subgenre of speculative fiction, solarpunk envisions futures in which climate change triggers innovation, resilience, community building, and closer bonds with the natural world. Join other curious readers and dive headfirst into contemporary literary fiction. Led by NCMA Winston-Salem Executive Director and former English professor Bill Carpenter, Book Club offers guided conversations covering a range of topics, from themes and imagery to plot structures and character development, with selections ranging from national bestsellers to experimental novels. All are welcome at Book Club, even those who don’t finish the book.
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ART/LIT Teen Art Club: Box Stitch Bookbinding
Transform a forgotten book into a one-of-a-kind piece of art with guidance from artist and educator Nicole Uzzell Teens (ages 12-17) are invited to dismantle an upcycled book and rebuild it to tell a unique story in this hands-on creative workshop. Traditional Japanese box stitch bookbinding techniques will be taught and collaging materials will be provided. Participants are encouraged to bring their own sentimental treasures such as maps, letters, or photos to add. Please note: Bookbinding needles and utility knives will be used during this workshop. Safety instructions and supervision will be provided, but please consider the use of these tools when registering your student. Nicole Uzzell Originally from New Jersey, Nicole Uzzell is currently is a Professor of Art at Salem College and Forsyth Technical Community College and teaches clay handbuilding at Sawtooth School for Visual Art. Uzzell maintains an active studio practice near Hanging Rock State Park in Stokes County, NC. ART/LIT Students ages 12-17 are invited to explore the intersection of visual arts and literature at ART/LIT, an art club for teens that meets monthly for hands-on workshops led by working artists at local library branches. Workshops are open to all skill levels and encourage curiosity, creativity, and connection through art. ART/LIT is presented in partnership with Forsyth County Public Library. All materials are provided. Participation is free but registration is required.
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Field Trip: UNCSA Design & Production Studios
Join us for a Field Trip to UNCSA’s Design & Production Studios to explore cutting-edge spaces and hear directly from those working in the field You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at how theatre, film, live events, and immersive experiences come together from big ideas to final production. Enjoy a guided tour, demos, and conversation with students and educators about the creative problem-solving that makes it all happen. After the tour, stay for Photona, a high-energy, student-led showcase of experimental lighting, projection, and sound in the Freedman Theatre. This bold, immersive experience is powered by pro-level tech donated by industry leaders. Hear from student designers during a Q&A and vote for your favorite show to close out the night. Meet at UNCSA Main Campus (1533 South Main St. Winston-Salem, NC, 27127). The studio and shop entrance is located behind the Administration Building. Entrances for the School of Design & Production’s administrative and faculty offices are located near the Pearce Building on Ehle Drive. Field Trips are free to attend but registration is required. Field Trips Field Trips are community art excursions to local, arts-based organizations and institutions for an inside look at spaces that are shaping the cultural landscape in the North Carolina triad. The monthly meet-ups are led by NCMA Winston-Salem staff and may include collaborative art-making, movement or sound explorations, guided tours, or creative prompts. Like the field trips of our childhoods, they combine fun and learning, all while showcasing unique, local entities that are rooted in the arts.
![Image related to [CANCELLED] ART CRUSH: Kenny Wavinson & Proxevita](https://ncmawinstonsalem.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/kenny-wavinson-3-640x427.jpg)
PLAN YOUR VISIT
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DOWNTOWN WINSTON-SALEM
Now open on 4th Street, NCMA Winston-Salem Downtown offers an exhibition and program space committed to fostering creativity and collaboration among visitors, artists, and community groups.
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NCMA Winston-Salem
PLEASE NOTE: The museum campus on Marguerite Drive is closed in 2026 for construction improvements.
Members Experience More
You love the museum. Now, let’s make it official. Museum membership includes access to numerous perks like free exhibition admission, discounted tickets to events, and more.
RALEIGH
One Museum. Two Locations.
The Museum’s history begins in 1924, when the North Carolina Art Society was formed. Its mission: to generate interest in creating an art museum for the state. In 1928 the society acquired funds and approximately 75 paintings by bequest from Robert F. Phifer, a North Carolina native and businessman. In 1929 the first in a series of temporary art exhibition spaces opened in the Agriculture Building in Raleigh.
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